But he added that patients shouldn’t stop taking their medication without talking to their doctor. Statins are “among the best drugs we’ve got” for reducing the risk of heart attacks and deaths from heart disease, Nissen said.

Suzanne Steinbaum, M.D., director of women and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital In Bronx, N.Y., told MedPage Today that older women who are taking statins should be sure their doctor checks their blood sugar, as well as their liver function, to monitor for signs of diabetes.

Some of the early warning signs of diabetes include increased thirst and urination, as well as fatigue.